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Wailuku, Maui, Hawai`iMayor Alan Arakawa announced April 25 the selection of Anaergia Services of Carlsbad, California for Maui County’s Integrated Waste Conversion and Energy Project (IWCEP) out of a field of 20 proposals received.

The IWCEP is a consolidated effort in waste management to divert the waste generated by Maui's residents and businesses and instead use it to produce renewable fuels.

“Living on an island we are always looking for ways to preserve our aina and make better use of our natural resources,” said Mayor Arakawa.

“That is why this IWCEP project is so important.

"We are looking at reducing waste in our landfill, cutting down the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, producing a clean bio-fuel for industrial consumers as well as greatly expanding the recycling of materials in our community.

“If we succeed we will have turned our trash into a treasured resource and kept our landfill from taking up more space on our beautiful island."

These two renewable fuels may be used for energy onsite or offsite locally in Hawaii as a replacement to existing imported fossil fuels.

The selection of Anaergia Services for the IWCEP is a first step in the process toward project implementation.

“Over the next few months, we will be asking the Council and the public to help provide feedback on the project," Mayor Arakawa noted.

"We will also be conducting a thorough environmental review to carefully assess the project's impacts and benefits to our island's sustainability."

According to Environmental Management Director Kyle Ginoza, the Anaergia solution will result in an avoided emissions equivalent of taking 25,000 cars off the road through maximizing recycling, while minimizing emissions.

In addition, the project is expected to divert roughly 85 percent of waste from the Central Maui Landfill and provide a significant number of construction jobs and full-time operations jobs.